Soalan itu terlalu peribadi.

In Malay, the normal pattern is:

noun + determiner + description

So:

• soalan = question
• itu = that / the
• terlalu peribadi = too personal

So soalan itu means that question.

Putting itu before the noun is generally not how standard Malay forms this kind of noun phrase. A native English speaker may want to say that question, but in Malay it is usually question that = soalan itu.

It is most literally that, but in many contexts it can feel close to the in English.

So soalan itu can mean:

• that question
• or sometimes the question, depending on context

Malay does not have articles exactly like English a/an/the, so itu often helps make a noun more specific or identifiable.

Malay often omits the verb to be in simple statements.

So English:

• That question is too personal

becomes Malay:

• Soalan itu terlalu peribadi

There is no need for a separate word meaning is here. This is very normal in Malay.

Terlalu means too, in the sense of more than is acceptable / excessively.

So:

• terlalu mahal = too expensive
• terlalu sukar = too difficult
• terlalu peribadi = too personal

It does not just mean very. It suggests excess.

This is a very common question.

• sangat peribadi = very personal
• terlalu peribadi = too personal

So:

• sangat = very
• terlalu = too

Use terlalu when something goes beyond what is comfortable, suitable, or acceptable.

Yes. In this sentence, peribadi means personal and functions like an adjective.

So:

• soalan = question
• peribadi = personal

Together with terlalu, it describes the noun:

• Soalan itu terlalu peribadi = That question is too personal

A useful thing to know is that peribadi can also appear in other expressions, sometimes with a slightly broader sense related to personal or private.

Because terlalu modifies an adjective.

The pattern is:

terlalu + adjective

Examples:

• terlalu besar = too big
• terlalu lambat = too slow / too late
• terlalu peribadi = too personal

So terlalu comes before the describing word.

Yes. That means That question is very personal.

Compare:

• Soalan itu sangat peribadi = That question is very personal
• Soalan itu terlalu peribadi = That question is too personal

The second one sounds stronger and implies the speaker thinks the question should not have been asked, or goes beyond an acceptable limit.

A simple learner-friendly guide:

• soalan ≈ so-AH-lan
• itu ≈ ee-too
• terlalu ≈ ter-lah-loo
• peribadi ≈ peh-ree-BAH-dee

A few notes:

• Malay pronunciation is usually quite regular.
• Each vowel is usually pronounced clearly.
• The r is often lightly rolled or tapped.
• Stress is generally not as strong or dramatic as in English.

Yes, but the feel changes slightly.

• soalan = question
• pertanyaan = question / inquiry

Soalan is very common in everyday speech.
Pertanyaan can sound a bit more formal, depending on context.

So:

• Soalan itu terlalu peribadi = natural, everyday
• Pertanyaan itu terlalu peribadi = also understandable, slightly more formal

It is generally neutral and natural.

It works well in everyday conversation and also in standard written Malay. It is not slangy, and it is not especially formal either.

If you wanted to sound softer, you might say something like:

• Soalan itu agak peribadi. = That question is rather personal.

That sounds less direct than terlalu peribadi.

A few softer alternatives are:

• Soalan itu agak peribadi. = That question is rather personal.
• Soalan itu sedikit terlalu peribadi. = That question is a little too personal.
• Itu soalan yang agak peribadi. = That is a rather personal question.

If you are speaking to someone directly, Malay often uses softer wording to avoid sounding too harsh.

Yes. Terlalu peribadi often implies that the question crosses a boundary.

So the sentence can mean more than just describing the question. It may also suggest:

• the speaker feels uncomfortable
• the listener should not have asked it
• the topic is too private

So pragmatically, it can be a mild rebuke.

Yes, but the meaning becomes less specific.

• Soalan itu terlalu peribadi. = That question / the question is too personal.
• Soalan terlalu peribadi. = Questions are too personal, or a question is too personal, depending on context

In many cases, leaving out itu makes the sentence feel less anchored to one specific question. If you mean a particular question, itu is helpful and natural.

Because adalah is usually not needed here, and using it would sound unnatural.

In simple descriptive sentences, Malay normally just says:

• Soalan itu terlalu peribadi.

The word adalah is used in more limited, often formal contexts, and not as a direct equivalent of English is in every sentence. So learners should not insert it automatically.

A useful breakdown is:

Soalan itu + terlalu peribadi
noun phrase + predicate/adjective phrase

More specifically:

• Soalan itu = subject = that question
• terlalu peribadi = predicate = too personal

This is a very common Malay structure:

• Rumah itu besar. = That house is big.
• Makanan ini sedap. = This food is delicious.
• Soalan itu terlalu peribadi. = That question is too personal.